Why We Recognised Advertising Industry Veterans, Others – ARCON

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has said it honoured some advertising industry veterans and practitioners to promote professional excellence, encourage compliance with industry standards and preserve the history of Nigeria’s marketing communications industry.

The director-general of ARCON, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, gave the explanation in Lagos at the maiden edition of the ARCON Special Recognition Awards (ASRA).

Fadolapo said the initiative was designed to complement the council’s regulatory and enforcement responsibilities by recognising individuals whose contributions had advanced the profession and set standards for others to follow.

According to him, the awards would provide a platform to celebrate exemplary practitioners and preserve the legacies of those who had contributed to the industry’s development.

“The initiative is designed to complement our regulatory and enforcement responsibilities by recognising individuals whose contributions have advanced the profession and set standards for others to follow,” Fadolapo said.

Among the recipients was the chairman of Mindshare Communications Limited, Prof. Osaren Philips Emokpae, who received the Frontrunner Award for his pioneering contributions to advertising, particularly independent media practice.

Emokpae was recognised for championing the establishment of the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), which helped advance specialised media planning and buying in the country. He was also acknowledged for promoting research to provide data for more scientific and effective media planning.

Another recipient, Olu Falomo (posthumous), was recognised for his longstanding leadership and contributions to the practice and structural development of Nigeria’s advertising industry.

Similarly, Olufunmilayo Onabolu received recognition for his pioneering contributions to brand activation, experiential marketing and integrated marketing communications. He founded the Centa Group network in 1996.

The council also posthumously honoured Simeon Olaghere for his foundational contributions to outdoor advertising and the growth of experiential marketing in Nigeria.

The ceremony attracted advertising industry leaders, government representatives and other stakeholders. The ministers of Information and National Orientation, and of Solid Minerals Development, were represented at the event.

In a statement made available to journalists, Mindshare Communications Limited, founded by Emokpae, said ARCON had indicated that the awards would become an annual event.

The statement quoted the council as saying the initiative would provide “a platform to acknowledge practitioners whose work has shaped the industry’s growth and direction.”

The citation presented in honour of Emokpae highlighted his more than three decades of experience spanning marketing communications, strategic planning, media management, education and entrepreneurship.